Chair



July 14, 1942. 3, B RUST -2,289,733'

CHAIR Filed April 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' J'Ansf B. R s

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Enventor J. B. RUST July 14, 1942.

CHAIR Filed A ril 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnento1: JA EG B. RasT' Gttorn g V Patented July 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIR James B. Rust Detroit, Mich.

Application April 23, 1941, Serial No. 389,925

3 Claims. (o1'. 155-45) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a folding chair so constructed and arranged that a swingable back and a swingable foot rest mounted thereon may be easily and quickly, simultaneously tilted to various positions relatively to the seat portion.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a chair of this type so arranged and constructed that a foot rest and a back may be easily and quickly swung to position to extend parallel with and in alignment with the seat, so as to form a continuation of the seat portion so that the chair may be readily converted into a bed or couch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a chair so constructed and arranged that the side arms thereof will serve as side bars when the structure is converted into a couch or bed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a chair of this type so arranged and constructed that it may be secured easily and quickly in any position of tilt of the back and foot rest relatively to the seat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a chair of this type which will be economical of structure, durable, compact, easy of operation, light and possessed of a minimum number of parts.

Other objects will appear hereinaften It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof and it is intended that such changes and modifications shall be embraced within the claims forming a part hereof.

Forming a part of the specification are drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention showing it adjusted to a position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 4, with parts broken away, parts shown in section, and parts removed Fig. 3 being taken generally on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. A is a side elevaticnal view of the invention in lowered position with parts broken away, parts removed and parts shown in section.

As shown in the drawings the chair embodies oppositely disposed stationary rear legs 9 and oppositely disposed stationary front legs- H]. The front and rear legs at opposite sides are similarly connected together by means of the braces H and i2 and the arm rest [3 which is provided with the horizontally disposed flange [4. The rear legs are connected together by means of the rails l5, l6 and I1. The front legs are connected together by means of the rails l8 and IS. The rails l5 and I8 also project through the braces I2. Projected through the braces H is the rod 20 which extends beyond the outer faces of these rails 20. Mounted on and secured to the rails I! and I9 are seat forming members 2! which may be in the nature of slats or other desirable material, these seat forming members lying between the braces H.

A tilting of the back is provided which comprises the side bars 22 and 23 connected together by the rods 24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 48, these rods extending through the side bars 22 and 23 and terminating flush with the outer faces thereof. The rod I1 projects through the side bars 22 and 23 and serves as a means for pivotally connecting the back on the rear legs 9, the side bars 22 and 23 engaging between the rear legs 9. When the back is lowered to its low position as shown in Fig. 4, it is supported by oppositely disposed supporting legs 29 and 30 which are pivotally connected on the rod 28 and connected together by the rods 3| and 32. These legs, when swung into inoperative position, lie between the side bars 22 and 23 and are held in position by a spring clip 29' which is carried by the side bars 22 and 23.

- forward ends by means of the rod 35 and the cross bar 36. Side boards 31 are mounted at the forward ends of this foot rest. A rod 38 serves to connect the bars 33 and 34 adjacent their upper ends and secured to the rods 35 and 38 are slats 39 or similar material.

The rod 24 is connected, adjacent its opposite ends, inwardly of the bars 22 and 23, to a rod 4| which serves to connect the bars 33 and 34, this connection being made by the connecting bars 40. Pivotally mounted, adjacent their rear ends, on the rod I6 are latch bars 44 and 45 having notches 50 formed in their lower faces. These latch bars extend between the side bars 22 and 23 of the back and project across the rod 24. When swung downwardly the rod 24 will engage in the notches 50 and thus a swinging of the back will be prevented. A rod 46 extends through the rear end of these latch bars 44 and 45 and connected at one of its ends to the rod 46 is a draw bar 41, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a rod 43. This rod 43 also is connected to the lower end of an operating lever 49 which is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on the rod 20. This operating arm or lever 49 lies outside of the arm rests I3, one of the operating arms being provided on each side of the structure. The construction is such that when the back swings relatively to the stationary part of the structure, the foot rest will also swing due to the connection between the back and the foot rest by means of the bars 40.

The occupant of the chair, while sitting in the chair, may grip the lever 49. Upon rocking this lever rearwardly at its upper end the draw bars 4'! will effect a forward movement of the rod 46, causing the members 44 and 45 to rock upwardly at their forward ends so that the notches 50 will disengage from the rod 24. This will permit the back to be tilted. While the bars 44 and 45 are in their elevated position the occupant of the chair may tilt the seat back rearwardly by pressing against the same with his back. As the seat back tilts rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to move downwardly at its upper end, the foot rest will move upwardly at its forward end and if this tilting movement is continued the parts will come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the foot rest and the chair back form a continuation of the seat portion and lie in alignment therewith so that the members 39, 2| and 52 will form a continuous sort of table or support. The supporting legs 29 may then be swung downwardly to support the outer end of the back. The slats 52 are secured to the rods 48 and 26.

Should it be desired to swing the parts in their opposite directions the occupant, after rocking the lever 49 to move notches 50 out of engagement with the rod 24, may, by downward pressure on the foot rest, swing the foot rest downwardly and the back upwardly. In this manner the occupant of the structure may very easily and quickly swing the back to various positions of inclination relatively to the seat while, at the same time, swinging the foot rest a right amount and, as stated, this swinging movement may continue until the parts lie in alignment with each other as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the arm rests as well as the upper extensions of the legs 9 and ID, serve as side guards when swung to the position shown in Fig. 4. When swung to this position the structure may be used as a couch, a bed, or a table, thus affording a foldable chair which is possessed of maximum amount of use and lends itself admirably as a lawn chair or a porch chair. I have mounted traction wheels 5| on the lower ends of the front 1 legs ll! for facilitating transportation of the same.

It will be noted that the various parts are so arranged and constructed that the chair may be shipped in either assembled or knocked-down spaced apart front legs; spaced apart rear legs in spaced relation to said front legs; a seat fixedly mounted on and lying between said legs; a back projecting at one end between said legs and swingably mounted thereon and extending at its other end upwardly from said seat and swingable downwardly to extend in alignment with and form a continuance of said seat; a foot rest swingably mounted on said legs and swingable downwardly of said seat and upwardly thereof to extend in alignment therewith and forming a continuance thereof; links connecting said foot rest and the lower end of said back for assuring swinging movement of said back and said foot rest in unison with each other; latch bars rockably mounted intermediate their ends on their rear legs and provided on one of their faces with notches; means secured to said back at the lower end thereof for engagement with said notches, said latch bars, while in engagement with said engaging means, preventing swinging movement of the said back; a rockably mounted lever; and a draw bar pivotally connecting said lever to said latch bars for elfecting a rocking of the same.

2. A chair of the class described comprising: spaced apart front legs; spaced apart rear legs in spaced relation to said front legs; a seat fixedly mounted on said legs and lying between the same; a seat back having oppositely disposed side rails, said side rails extending between said rear legs and projecting downwardly below said seat; a foot rest pivotally mounted on said front legs and projectable downwardly below said seat; links connecting said foot rest with the side rails of said back for effecting swinging movement of said foot rest and said back in unison with each other, said foot rest and said back being swingable into positions for swinging into alignment with and forming a continuance of said seat; rockably mounted latch bars for engaging and preventing a swinging movement of said back; a rockably mounted lever; and a draw bar connecting said rockable lever with said latch bars for rocking the same into inoperative position.

3. A chair of the class described, comprising: spaced apart front legs; spaced apart rear legs positioned in spaced relation rearwardly of said front legs; a seat mounted upon and lying between said legs, said legs extending at their upper ends above said seat; a rod extended through said rear legs; a seat back swingably mounted on said rod; a pair of spaced rails on said seat back, said rails extending at their lower ends, between said rear legs and below said seat; a rod extended through said rails at their lower ends; means rockably mounted on the rear legs, engageable with said rod for preventing swinging movement of said seat back; means for connecting said foot rest and said seat back together for swingable movement in unison with each other; a rockably mounted lever supported on said legs; a link connecting said lever pivotally to one end of said engagement means for effecting, upon rocking of said lever in one direction, a rocking of said engagement means out of engagement with said rod.

JAMES B. RUST. 

